During the week ending March 18, security forces used live fire on six Palestinian farmers in their fields and two fishermen at sea — individuals threatening no one.

There were 61 incursions into Palestinian communities, an average of about 9 daily — 41 arrests made, including 4 children, individuals who committed no crimes.

Four houses were demolished in Bethlehem and East Jerusalem, part of longstanding Israeli policy to replace Palestinians with exclusive Jewish development.

Protected by soldiers and police, 5 attacks by settlers occurred against Palestinians and their property.

Over two dozen military checkpoints were established to harass and obstruct free movement for Palestinians.

During the seven-day period alone, PCHR “documented 112 violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) by Israeli occupation forces (IOF) and settlers in the occupied Palestinian territory” — an average of 16 daily.

Flagrant Israeli human rights abuses against Palestinian occur multiple times daily every day of the year without letup — including during the current health emergency.

COVID-19 related lockdown restrictions harm besieged Gazans most.

Since 2007, there’s been no “improvement to the movement of persons and goods (or) humanitarian conditions (that caused) catastrophic consequences on all aspects of life,” PCHR explained.

Daily life throughout the Occupied Territories is defined by excessive violations to “the right to life and to bodily integrity.”

“Excessive use of force against (peaceful) protests” for fundamental rights denied turned the Territories into an undeclared war zone — now during a health emergency no different than other times.

On March 19, B’Tselem reported on Israeli police state terror in East Jerusalem’s al-‘Esawiyah neighborhood, saying:

“Despite the unprecedented health crisis requiring residents of Israel and the Occupied Territories to take extreme social isolation measures,” the Netanyahu regime “escalate(d) abuse and collective punishment” of the Palestinian community.

During the day, at night, pre-dawn, on weekdays and weekends, security forces continue to rampage through the neighborhood.

“(F)or no apparent reason, (they) initiated friction with the residents.”

B’Tselem: “(P)olice abuse of Palestinians in al-’Esawiyah, by now a permanent feature of life in the neighborhood, is illegal and cannot be justified even under the usual routine of occupation.”

“Yet at this sensitive time, such conduct exposes residents to substantial, completely unnecessary health risks, as it encourages gatherings and forces arrested residents, including many minors, to leave home and be around strangers.”

“Israeli authorities disregard the lives of al-’Esawiyah residents, including children and teens, is nothing new.”

“Yet continuing and even escalating such conduct during a (public health emergency) is an especially appalling manifestation of this policy.”

On Monday, Haaretz reported that doctors warned of Gaza’s potential collapse after COVID-19 cases were reported in the Strip, according to its health ministry.

“Everything I am hearing is if the outbreak reaches the magnitude where you need more than 60 ICU beds to treat, it will become increasingly difficult and could well turn into a disaster of gigantic proportions,” he stressed.

Shops and restaurants are closed in the Strip, Friday prayers suspended.

Gaza’s two million residents were urged to practice extreme caution to prevent disease from spreading.

Quarantine centers were established in schools and other facilities for Gazans ill with COVID-19, according to the Strip’s health ministry.

Israel tightened blockade conditions to prevent entry or exists from the Strip without hard to get permission.

Stephen Lendman was born in 1934 in Boston, MA. In 1956, he received a BA from Harvard University. Two years of US Army service followed, then an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. After working seven years as a marketing research analyst, he joined the Lendman Group family business in 1967. He remained there until retiring at year end 1999. Writing on major world and national issues began in summer 2005. In early 2007, radio hosting followed. Lendman now hosts the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network three times weekly. Distinguished guests are featured. Listen live or archived. Major world and national issues are discussed. Lendman is a 2008 Project Censored winner and 2011 Mexican Journalists Club international journalism award recipient.

About Stephen

Stephen Lendman was born in 1934 in Boston, MA. In 1956, he received a BA from Harvard University. Two years of US Army service followed, then an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. After working seven years as a marketing research analyst, he joined the Lendman Group family business in 1967.